Can-punch



J. E. HAWKINS.

CAN PUNCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 27. 1919.

1,338,300, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

WITNESS: B INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Inns 1:. nawxm-s, or mam, cnmroanu.

CAN-PUNCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A ea, 1921)."

Application filed October 27, 1919. Serial No. 833,485

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendale, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Punches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptlon of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an 1mplement for unching holes in cans or other containers 0 condensed milk, syrup or other liquids, and aims to provide a novel and 1mproved yet simple and inexpensive device for doing such work in a convenient and simple manner.

A further object is the provision of a can punch which can be applled to cans of different sizes with equal facility.

Another object is the provision 'of such a device consisting of but two parts which can be inexpensively manufactured, and which will nevertheless do its intended work in a practical and efficient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the mvention resldes 1n the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scopes of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool as ap lied to a small can, and

ig. 2 is a similar view showing the device applied to a large can. v

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the device in folded position, looking at right angles to the line of View of Figs. 1 and 2.

short arm 3 and the long arm 4 parallel with one another. Bend 5 of the member 1 engages pivotall through an a erture 6 near one end of t e lever 2-, where y to PIV- otally connect the member 1 and lever, permittlng the lever to be swung on the bend 5 as a ulcrum. The lever can also be swung between the arms 3 and 4, as seen in Fig. 3, to fold the device so that it can be conveniently stored away or carried. The-end of the arm 3 is bent toward one side from the plane of the arms 3 and 4 to form a can-engaging hook or finger 7, and the end of the arm 4 is similarly bent toward the opposite side to form a can-engaging hook or finger 8. These hooks or fin ers 7. and 8 are different distances from t e bend 5' of the member 1, to engage cans of different sizes, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus,"

' in placing one side of the member 1 against the can, the hook or finger 7 is ada ted to engage the bottom or one end of t Q can, whereas when the o .posite side of said member 1 is placed against the can, the hook or finger 8 is adapted to engage the bottom or the corresponding end of the can, permitting said member 1 to be reversed for small or large cans.

The end of the lever 2 adjacent to the bend 5 of the member 1 is provided with a pair of perforating or punching pron s 9 and 10, which are curved apart on divergent lines, so as to extend laterally in opposite directions. These prongs 9 and 10 are pointed so as to penetrate the top or corresponding end of thecan. As shown, the lever 2 is stamped from sheet metal, although it ma be made of wireor other suitable materia and the opposite end of the lever 2 has an aperture 11 for engaging a nail, hook or other member when it is desired to hang the device up.

In using the deviceon a small can, as seen in Fig. 1, the member 1 is placed against the can with the hook or finger 7 engaging the bottom or one end, and the lever 2 is swung to a-position as illustrated vwith the prong 9 rea to move toward and from the can. By swinging the lever 2 away from the member 1, this will force the prong 9 through the top or corresponding end of the can, making a perforation 01' slot of suitable size accordlng to the amount that the lever 2 is moved, the metal being out toward the side wall b the swinging movement of the prong 9. n applying the device to a large can, as seen in ig. 2, the lever-2 is swung toward the opposite side so that when the member 1 is applied to the can with the hook or fin er 8 en aging same, the prong 10 will be 1n a position to punch the hole in the opposite end of the can.

Havin thus described the invention, what 15 clanne as new 1s:-

1. A can punch comprlslng a can-engaging member having opposite can-engaging at opposite sides and at difierent distances from the pivot to engage cans of different sizes, said lever having can-penetrating prongs extending in opposite d rections to penetrate the can when said member and lever are reversed.

4. A can punch comprising a can-engaging member and a lever pivotally connected,

Sflldmember having means on opposite sides for engaging cans of difl'erent sizes,

- and the lever having means forpenetrating can-engaging means, and a lever pivotally mounted on said bend, and having can-penetrating means.

6. A can punch comprising a doubled canengaging member having a bend and arms of different lengths extending therefrom, the ends of said arms having hooks extending toward opposite sides for engaging cans of different sizes, and a lever pivotally mounted near one end on said bend and provided at said bend with can-penetrating prongs extending in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this Specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. HAWKINS.

Witnesses: 1

M. J. HUTCHINSON, FLORENCE HAWKINS. 

